Locals inspect an American F-15 E Strike Eagle jet the morning after it crashed in a field, in Gult Sultan, Libya, March 22, 2011. Two crew members ejected from the F-15 after an equipment malfunction.

Two pilots ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle today after an equipment malfunction caused the plane to crash 25 miles east of Benghazi, Libya, Monday night, according to U.S. officials.

Both had only minor injuries, and were safely recovered.

The aircraft, based out of the Royal Air Force Lakenheath base in northern England, was flying out of Aviano Air Base in Italy in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn when it went down. It was the first reported loss of a coalition aircraft during the conflict in Libya.

In Ghot Sultan, the wreckage of the F-15 drew a stream of curious visitors. People on the scene said one helicopter came to the site and fired warning shots as it touched down. It found one crewman and ferried him away.

However, a senior Marine official disputes the report that warning shots were fired. He said Harrier jets dropped two bombs to prevent the locals from coming near the pilot and that as far as he knows no other weapons were used.

That pilot is in good condition and is aboard the USS Kearsarge off the coast of Libya.

The pilot was picked up by a Marine search and rescue from the ship. The team launched its standard TRAP Mission (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel), sending two Ospreys, two CH-53E helicopters and two Harrier jets. The Harrier jets launched first to patrol the skies over the downed pilot and the helicopters carried 35 marines to serve as perimeter protection if needed.

Initially the pilot thought the pro-rebel villagers were Gadhafi supporters and requested that the Harrier jets drop two 500 pound bombs to prevent the locals from getting close. The bombs were dropped in a area between the pilot and the villagers to serve as a warning.

The pilot was eventually protected and given food and water by villagers who had initially thought the American plane was one of Gadhafi's. The villagers even expressed gratitude to the pilot for preventing a bloodbath in Benghazi. The pilot was eventually rescued by one of the Ospreys.

The second airman was picked up by villagers who convinced him they were friendly. An opposition council member came to the scene and took him to Benghazi, locals told ABC News. "He was treated with dignity and respect," and is now in back in U.S. hands, said Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe and Africa.

The loss of the plane is under investigation and the identities of the crew members will be released after the next of kin have been notified.

Officials blamed the crash on mechanical problems, but say until they recover the airplane, they cannot with absolute certainty determine the cause.

President Obama, who was in Chile when the incident happened, was notified late Monday night.

Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn is the U.S. Africa Command task force established to provide operational and tactical command and control of U.S. military forces supporting the international response to the unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973.

As coalition strikes against Libya continue, the White House is pushing back against the idea that the international coalition supporting "Operation Odyssey Dawn" is fraying and that Obama didn't adequately consult with Congress before authorizing U.S. involvement in attacks against the Libyan government on Saturday.